10 Types Of Partners Everyone Has In Group Projects

By
MAHNOOR YUNUS

PLEXUSS.COM

My name is Mahnoor Yunus & I’m a first year at UC Santa Barbara, majoring in Political Science and Global Studies. I aspire to be a lawyer & I am interested in writing, filmmaking, human rights, business entrepreneurship, and learning foreign languages.

BY
MAHNOOR YUNUS

PLEXUSS.COM

My name is Mahnoor Yunus & I’m a first year at UC Santa Barbara, majoring in Political Science and Global Studies. I aspire to be a lawyer & I am interested in writing, filmmaking, human rights, business entrepreneurship, and learning foreign languages.

Group projects are the worst. Plain and simple. Whether you are in a group with your friends and not getting anything done, or with total strangers not knowing your role in the group, group projects are never fun. Students cringe when told to pick a group, and cry when told their group will be assigned to them. These school projects are always filled with a cast of characters. Here are the 10 types of partners you are sure to have in group projects:

Usually self-proclaiming themselves as the one who will take charge, this type of person establishes their dominance and makes sure everyone knows they are the leader of the group from the very beginning. Although they are hardworking and driven to get that A+ on the project, their relentless nagging and dismissal of other’s ideas can quickly aggravate the rest of the team. However, there is no denying that without them, nothing would get done and the group would fall apart.

When it comes to art projects or filming videos, this type of person is your go-to man to get the job done. Whether they are a film director or an artist, they often have a unique perspective they can bring to the table and like the control freak, they don’t really need anyone else’s opinions or help for that matter. In other words, it wouldn’t be surprising if one of their works made it to the Sundance Film Festival or some famous art gallery someday.

Often a speech and debate fanatic, this type of person is an orator at heart and could probably compose a brilliantly articulate presidential speech in his or her sleep. Even without all the facts laid out in front of them, they are able to draw upon knowledge from the inner depths of their mind and present it in a clear and concise way (like Sherlock Holmes -- except it’s for a group project and not for solving impossibly complex cases).

One of the most difficult types of people to work with in any situation, this type of person has the whole package: procrastination, no motivation or self-discipline, and a terrible work ethic. Although they may not necessarily be stupid, they contribute nothing to the group or project itself and instead profit from the other members’ accomplishments without putting any effort in themselves.

Often labeled as a ‘know-it-all’ or ‘nerd’, this type of person proves to be of immense value when it comes to group projects because anything pertaining to academics is their forte. They are often difficult to work with because they always think they’re right and are unwavering when it comes to their ideas, but in the end, they will no doubt earn that A+ on the group project.

Unlike the other types of people you will come across, this type of person is not as easy nor obvious to identify because they come across as supportive and helpful, but serve no real purpose in the group project. Instead, they undertake minor or side tasks like checking in on the group’s progress or bringing snacks to a group study session, allowing them to conveniently slide by without anyone noticing that they aren’t actually contributing any work.

Stuck in a perpetual state of confusion, this type of person is the least useful in a group project because they never have any idea as to what’s going on. Ever. It’s unclear whether it’s because they aren’t paying any attention or because they are just plain stupid, but either way, you’re better off doing the work yourself rather than relying on them to get the work done.

Unlike the public speaker, this type of person does not necessarily have to have a special or unique talent as long as they are good at taking notes and have readable handwriting. In terms of presentation and appearance, they ensure the information is put together in a way that is appealing and eye-catching, similar to the creative/artistic type. After all, a group project is based on a number of factors, among them aesthetic and quality.

One of the most important steps in a group project is compiling sources and extracting information from them, which is exactly what this type of person is best at doing. Without them, it can be impossible to accomplish anything otherwise and despite their seemingly simple job, they are no doubt one of the most valuable members to have in a group project.

There will always be that one person who is displeased with everything and everyone and just needs a reason to complain, and that is all this type of person is good at doing. They can be extremely negative and sullen when their ideas are not placed to the forefront, and instead will stubbornly find any chance they can to criticize the entire project in hopes of getting their way. As a result, they serve little purpose in bringing the project together because they are too busy prioritizing their own personal agenda.

What type of group project member are you? What type are your friends? Vote in the poll!